Founded in Jerusalem in 1924, the Jewish National and University Library had its origins in Zionist endeavors of the late 19th century, which sought to shape the library into a spiritual and cultural center for the Jewish people. The creation of the Jewish National and University Library preceded that of the Hebrew University and was fundamental in fostering scientific research in the Yishuv during the British Mandate. To this day the Jewish National and University Library is the world’s leading collection of books and manuscripts on Jewish history and culture.

The first initiative…